October!

Whew, we made it through October!  It, along with December, and May, always seems to be the most busy months for us.  However, we are all so happy that this October was much more "normal" than last October, so we embraced crazy, as they say.  We jumped right in to the month with a fun parent Oktoberfest social at school on the evening of the 1st.  It was a blast!  Bob ended up grilling with the Knights, but I think he even enjoyed that!  I helped clean up Saturday morning and then Anna had an away soccer game.  Sunday we took Finley for a pet blessing at church.  The jury is still out on its effectiveness. 

 Erin got a day at home on Monday the 4th due to a covid case in her grade late Friday night and the school needing to contact the health department on Monday.  The following week was fun and busy with my book club, 2 volleyball games, and the other usual activities.  Friday the 8th, we ventured to our first official Cardinal Gibbons event - feeder school tailgate night.  It was lots of fun!

Saturday the 9th was a fun day - soccer got rained out, but Anna went to Addie's birthday party, and I got to go to dinner with friends and see Jenny's play in Apex.  Sunday, Erin altar served at 9am and Bob left that afternoon for a week in Los Angeles for work.  The following week was more of the same, plus observation week at dance, where I got to sit in on Erin's classes and observe. 

 Erin's chorus elective sang at mass on Thursday, and they did a beautiful job!

Saturday the 16th was another soccer game, some shopping fun for us girls, and Bob went to his Knights friend's wedding.  Sunday, we ladies helped give tours at an open house at school.  The next week was Anna's last 2 volleyball games, including an ice cream party after the last game!

  We had a super fun trunk or treat and movie night at school on Friday evening!

  Saturday was Erin's 13th birthday!  She had a great day from beginning to end and continuing on Sunday, post HERE.  

The last week of the month was more fun, including Anna's last 2 soccer games and party, picking out a new sink and counter for our laundry room, Halloween costume day at school, Buddy Walk in Charlotte with Elliott and family (plus a Cici's pizza lunch and stop at their house to see their new front door and carpet!), and adult dinner out with Liz and David! 

 Sunday was Anna's first time altar serving, and she did a wonderful job!  Then we had some fun Halloween pumpkin carving and prep for a neighbor party and then trick or treating!  Anna went with Addie this year, the first time they haven't both stayed around here for Halloween.  They are growing up!

So, it was a super fun and extra-busy month, partly due to the 3 school events that I had to help with and attend for the PSO.  But we got it all done, everyone stayed healthy, and we can't complain!  Now, November - my favorite month!

October!

Well, October is always very busy, and this one did not disappoint!  It started out like summer and ended like summer, but I am happy to report that November has been much cooler and more fall-like.  The first week of the month, the girls finished up their standardized testing, we had a fun play date here with Jimmy and Danny on the 1st, Anna had her friend Fiona over to play on the 2nd, and we finished the week with the annual pet blessing at school.  This year, we had a pet to take, and he loved it (but he was super hot and tired afterward!).



Anna had a fun day on Saturday with a tennis lesson and a roller skating party for Sarah’s birthday, and Sunday she had friend Gerald over to play.  I also had a friend over - Ms. Emily came to give an interior design consultation!  We got lots of ideas and help and are well on our way to making some changes.

Next week, Bob went to Boston and Atlanta in a combo trip.  I got to work in the cafeteria on Monday and also hosted the neighborhood book club that evening.  Tuesday and Wednesday were the exciting HVAC replacement days, which went fine and kept Finley very busy.

 
Friday was observation week at dance, and I loved seeing both classes in action!



We all enjoyed having neighbor dog friend Ruby over for the weekend.  She gives us hope that some dogs can be calm.



Saturday was cultural day - Anna went to friend Addie’s house for a movie outing and sleepover, I went to dinner and my mom friend Jenny’s play, and Erin and Bob had dinner at the Olive Garden and then enjoyed seeing Charlotte’s Web at Middle Creek High School.  There was culture for everyone (except Finley)!  The 13th was the first pancake breakfast of the school year at church.

The following week, Bob had another combo trip to New York and to Boston...and got to drive between them on Wednesday, when he reported pretty fall foliage in New England.  We ladies had a fairly calm week otherwise.  I hosted the school mom book club here on Friday and did a shrimp boil which seemed to go over well.  Saturday, we watched some Wolfpack football, Gerald came to play, and Anna got a haircut.

The next week was Erin’s 11th birthday week!!!  The kids were off school on Wednesday, her actual birthday, for a teacher workday.  She had friends Olivia, Vera, and Enzo over to play, eat lunch, do crafts, and decorate cupcakes.



Then we had a family dinner at Olive Garden!  She also got to cantor at school mass the next day with her music group, and she did a great job!



That Saturday, we had the first annual memorial 5K in our neighborhood for Mr. Tom and another neighbor who died this year.  Erin and I kept time, and Bob and Anna participated.



After that, Bob and the girls went camping at Ansley’s house with all the cousins and uncles!  They had planned to go to Morrow Mountain, but it rained.  They had lots of fun and still did camping activities like hiking and fishing, campfire, and made yummy camping food.  Everyone else met up with them there on Sunday for a pizza birthday lunch extravaganza!  So much fun!



The kids were off again on Monday and Tuesday for teacher conferences, which was a nice little break.  We did the usual other activities, helped watch Laney and Joey on Tuesday, and Bob went to dinner with old friend Josh.  Wednesday, Anna went to Old Salem with the fourth grade, and I got to go as well!  It was such a fun day, even though it rained a little bit.



We carved pumpkins that night.



Thursday was Halloween, and it rained again (!), but not until after trick or treating.  We had a very fun time with our neighbor friends!



So, that was October!  It was very busy but lots of fun.  We are all excited to be getting closer to Christmas, and I personally am excited for my favorite month of November coming up next!

October!

Whew, October is behind us!  It was fun and busy - as always - with lots of fall fun, Erin's birthday, and Halloween!  The first week of the month, the girls had their annual Iowa tests at school, so the routine was a little different.  I proctored for the eighth graders one afternoon, which is the easiest volunteering gig I've ever done.  Bob went to Austin, Texas, for work and we ladies had the usual activities that week as well.  Saturday, Anna had a marathon sleepover with Sarah for Sarah's birthday, including a painting class, Wendys lunch, and lots of playtime at Sarah's house!  Meanwhile, Erin and I went to her new friend Cael's birthday party at Warrior Tech ninja course place (which Erin enjoyed more than she thought she would). 



Sunday the 7th, I went to a play with some mom friends followed by dinner, which was lots of fun!  We had parent observation nights at dance that week, which was great. 





That week was full of excitement starting with yearbook picture day and ending with Hurricane Michael, which proved to be shorter in duration but also more windy than Florence.  We got about 2-3" of rain out of it compared to over 6-8" with Florence.  We only had power flicker a few times but never lost power.  The girls were off school on Thursday but went back Friday with a 2-hour delay.  Bob had the adventure of driving home from Washington DC in the hurricane - he was supposed to fly back Thursday night, but he and his coworkers decided to drive instead, expecting airline delays (they were correct).  They made it home fine.  We enjoyed s'mores with Ms. Karen down the street on the 12th.  The 13th was a fun day for Anna - she had friend Mateo over to play in the afternoon, and then she went to another friend Addie's sleepover birthday party.  She had a blast and made it through the night with no crying (that we know of)!  

Sunday the 14th was our annual ministry fair at church, so I worked the rosary makers and health promotion groups' tables.  We are trying to start a new health promotion ministry and were gathering data at the fair to see what people are interested in learning health-wise.  I went to the state fair on Monday during the day and had a great (warm!) time.  The rest of the week was business as usual, including a pizza and s'mores night at new friends the Mariani's house.  Matt works with Bob, and their family relocated here from Pennsylvania.  After having two hurricanes here this fall, they are probably wondering what they got themselves into here in NC!  Saturday the 20th, Bob took a boating class in Sanford to brush up on his skills, while we ladies prepped for Erin's birthday party!  The party was a blast (more birthday details are HERE), and we spent most of Sunday recovering from all the fun.  We did also have a yummy and fun dinner with Grandma and Grandpa on Sunday evening!





I got to accompany the fourth graders on a field trip on the 23rd, and we all had a blast!  Erin was off school on the 25th and both girls were off on the 26th, so we had a nice short week.  Erin and I hit the art museum on Thursday, and we 3 ladies went to Marbles on Friday. 







I had a book club meeting on Thursday night.  Saturday, we went to Concord for a super fun family birthday-Halloween weekend! 



Bob got the big news on Sunday that Red Hat is being bought by IBM.  So, things have been wild and crazy for him at work this week as everyone tries to get information and adjust to this news.  It looks like they'll have nearly a year before the acquisition is complete.  He's optimistic that he can use his contacts from his 9 years at IBM to his advantage.  It will be an interesting year!

We carved pumpkins on the evening of the 29th, I took dinner to neighbor Kate B. on Tuesday in honor of her new baby Tyler being born, and we had loads of fun on Halloween!  A Halloween highlight was Anna's party at school, costume day at ballet, and a pizza party for the neighborhood before trick-or-treating. 











So, those are the highlights...not including the weekly piano, voice, ballet, and jazz classes, my regular rosary cafeteria, art, and recess gigs at school, dog-sitting for a couple of neighbors, routine doctors' appointments, and a few other odds and ends.  The theme of the month for Anna was "sleepover" - she had one every single weekend!  It was a really great month, and I am SO excited for my favorite month ahead - November!  It is usually less busy, there's beautiful weather, and who doesn't love Thanksgiving?!  We can't wait!

October!

Well, that month went quickly!  October was a fun and busy month as usual.  We started out the month with Bob taking a trip to California and we ladies handling the routine at home.  Sawyer was tracked out the first two weeks of the month, so I was able to help more at school with proctoring the standardized tests the first week and some other stuff as well.  I wish I could say I got more projects done while I was off, but I did manage to get some appointments done, planted winter flowers, prepped for Erin's birthday and Halloween, and steam cleaned the carpets.  Those were the highlights (glamorous, right?!) above and beyond the usual.  Anna was home sick on the 6th with a questionable stomach bug (meaning she threw up once the night before and was completely fine the next day).  I guess I'll take that over the opposite end of the sick spectrum!

The following weekend, Anna got to go to a fun movie birthday party at Cinebowl, which was a great time for everyone.  The week of the 9th was more of the same, except Bob had a shorter trip to Boston instead.  The 14th was Erin's party/playdate and I got to go out for a fun ladies' night out that evening.  We got our family pictures done on the 15th with wonderful neighbor Karen, and they turned out beautifully!





We checked out the newly relocated Mexican restaurant for dinner that day, and Bob was also able to catch up with college friends that evening. That week was more of the usual, with Bob leaving for Germany on Friday the 20th.  He was able to leave a couple of days early to do some sightseeing and visiting with his friend in Prague that weekend before reporting to work in Stuttgart on Monday the 23rd.  We got a fun visit from Grandma A. on the 21st-22nd, and we enjoyed showing her our new church and having lots of fun together.

Erin's actual birthday was the 23rd (see her birthday post), which was a great day!  The rest of the week was the usual with some Halloween fun thrown in.  Bob got home Friday evening, a day earlier than planned since some meetings were canceled on Friday.  Anna went to Caroline Manning's (her first-ever friend!) birthday party at a fun art studio on Saturday, and then we all watched the sad Wolfpack loss to the Irish and had a fun impromptu s'mores party with the neighbors.  Sunday was a busy day with church, a wonderful brunch with 2 couples from church, Erin's dance class, and the Hurricanes hockey game with the school!  The Canes lost in overtime, though we only made it through two periods.



We carved pumpkins Monday night after tennis and dinner so we would be ready for the big day.



Tuesday, Halloween, was an extra fun day and I was able to go to Anna's centers to lead the popular Bingo center and then to Erin's 3rd grade Halloween party (I was on the toilet paper mummy center).  It was a fun day, though we were all wiped out before trick or treating even started!  We went up to the neighborhood pool parking lot for a fun and yummy pizza party, then hit the streets with a couple of short breaks at neighbor friends the Waltons' driveway party!  Erin went strong for about 45 minutes with friends Ella, Nina, and Alexia, which was awesome, and Anna continued trick or treating with friends Caitlin and Kate for about another 45 minutes!  Erin then came back with me and we sat at the bottom of our driveway and handed out candy.  I think she enjoyed that as much as trick or treating.





So, October is over.  I rank it up there with December and May in terms of busy months, but it is always a fun one.  Our big girl is now 9, Halloween was a success, the weather is cooler, and my most favorite month of the year is upon us!  Bring on November!

October!

October was fun and busy as it usually is with the big #8 birthday and Halloween, plus lots more!  We started out the month with a pretty quiet weekend, then had a mostly normal week, complete with my monthly book club meeting, new blinds upstairs, and lots of volunteering at school since Sawyer's mom was tracked out and he wasn't with us.  Saturday the 8th, Daddy left for a tour of Europe for work (Munich, London, and Paris!).  The trip went well, and he was able to do a little sightseeing - mostly in Paris.  We ladies held down the fort, and had a nice week following with more of the usual.

We had a super fun time at Sawyer's 3rd birthday party at Hill Ridge Farms on the 15th.  We had never been there before and it was really crowded, but we had a great time on a beautiful day!  It was nice to knock out our "pumpkin patch outing" for the fall at the same time as Sawyer's birthday!  We also enjoyed an apple cider-making party at neighbor friend Ms. Karen's house after we got home, and then Daddy got home from his trip.  It was a great day.  Sunday the 16th, we had our second Little Flowers meeting for the year, which was fun, and got neighbors Karen and Megan to do some family pictures on the cheap instead of going all out this year.

The kids and Bob didn't make it to the State Fair this year, but I was able to go with a few moms from school on Tuesday the 18th.  We had a blast!  The kids were off on Friday the 21st for a teacher inservice, and we used the opportunity to take Anna to the pediatrician for irritated earlobes.  Only 14 karat gold for this girl!  Saturday the 22nd, we participated in the neighborhood yard sale, made about $250, and got rid of lots of junk (another person's treasure).  Later that afternoon, Erin's birthday celebrations began with friends Olivia and Beau from school coming over for a fun playdate and dinner!  Olivia spent the night, and the girls enjoyed a fun sleepover in the playroom.  Sunday was, of course, Erin's big day, which she spent playing at home as she likes most.



Daddy jetted to NYC the following week, which was a much easier trip than Europe!  We enjoyed some pre-Halloween fun with costume day at ballet on Thursday.  We also had a mobile vet come to the house on Friday because Bella was just not herself that whole week.  We think it was some kind of back injury, because she has bounced back and is nearly back to herself.  Bella lives on!



We went to Concord/Charlotte on the weekend of the 29th-30th and had lots of fun celebrating the big #2 for Cooper!  He's just so sweet.  Then we did Erin's birthday/trick-or-treating at Grandma and Grandpa's/applesauce making on Sunday.  What a fun weekend!  Monday was Halloween, of course, and the girls got to wear their costumes to school.  We carved pumpkins after school, freshened up, had pizza at the pool with the neighborhood, then hit the streets.  They went strong for about an hour and got lots of candy!  It was a great day and Halloween was a success.









So, that was October, and now we are already hearing about Christmas.  Erin's class is preparing for the Christmas pageant, and commercials are starting.  I, however (and Bob) refuse to start with all of that until Thanksgiving is over.  After all, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and November is my favorite month!  We can't let those slip by without proper celebration!

October!

We had a busy and fun month of October!  Anna's class had a St. Francis party (my first one of those) on Friday the 2nd, which was a huge hit and lots of fun!  The ladies suffered through their first FluMist vaccine on Saturday, and I may say that the shot actually went over better.  Oh well, we survived and hopefully gained some immunity.  Bella got to go to school on Monday the 5th for a pet blessing in honor of St. Francis' feast day.  She stayed clear of most of the other dogs, but seemed to enjoy herself.  Poor Erin and Bob were stricken with a yucky stomach bug later that week, but we all survived and checked off yet another virus.

We had a super busy weekend on the 10th-11th, starting with gymnastics, then a Duck Donuts birthday party for Anna's preschool friend (the other Anna).  It was so nice to see her and Anna's other preschool friend Jayme, who we haven't seen since school started.  Then, it was on to the Tumble Gym for Sawyer's fun birthday party!  For a rainy Saturday, we stayed pretty busy.  Our family pictures were canceled for the second time due to rain that day, but we did finally get those done on the 25th.  Sunday the 11th, Anna went to classmate Adeline's rock climbing birthday party (she insisted that she wanted to go, and Bob reported that she tried to rock climb a little bit), then Little Flowers that afternoon.  Whew!

We had Lunch with the Parents day on the 13th, which was lots of fun!  I got to help in Erin's art class on the 14th, had Jimmy and Danny over to play that afternoon, and went to a pep rally for the school walkathon on the 15th.  That was my second of two weeks "off" from watching Sawyer during his mom's track-out, and it was nice to get a few extra things done and be able to help more at school.  The girls were off school on Friday the 16th, so we had Anna's friend Kacey come over to play in the morning which was lots of fun, then met Erin's friend from last year, Alyssa, and her mom and brother at Naylor Farms in Fuquay for pumpkin patch/fall farm fun!  It was great to see them again too.



After gymnastics on Saturday the 17th, we headed to Concord to celebrate Erin's birthday.  We had a great time, and she loved every part of her pre-birthday weekend!  Daddy went to San Francisco and New York City for a few days the following week, and we ladies held down the fort.  Erin's class had their field trip on Friday the 23rd, and we had a really fun birthday weekend for her (see HERE).  The 25th was a little less busy with family pictures at Lake Crabtree and crashing neighbor friend Jacob's birthday party by riding on the fire truck around the neighborhood with him and his party friends (his mom invited us, don't worry).



We finished up the month with stomach bug round 2 for Erin and Bob (and Anna a few days later), but we got through this one more quickly than the first one.  The girls got to dress up for Halloween at school on the 28th and loved that!  They were off school on the 29th and 30th for teacher conferences...Anna was sick early on the 29th, but recovered and was able to go to Daddy's work for their Halloween party later that day.  It was crowded but lots of fun, and we saw Uncle Tom, Jimmy, and Danny there!   The 30th was their conferences, and we had a fun new babysitter, Callie, come over during that time.  Both teachers reported that they are doing well...Anna's teacher gave us a few things to work on (writing and confidence-building), and Erin's teacher said she's doing great!  After conferences, we carved pumpkins and enjoyed a beautiful day outside.

Halloween was packed full of fun!  First off was gymnastics with the coaches dressed up, then we went to Holly Fest, a local festival for our town.  We figured since we didn't make it to the state fair this year, we should do something like it.  The girls enjoyed bouncy houses galore, a few games, snacks, and a couple of crafts on a beautiful day.  Then we went home to regroup/watch our Wolfpack almost hold their own against Clemson before trick or treating!  We went to the pool parking lot for a neighborhood pizza party/pumpkin decorating party, then back for trick or treating.  The kids walked a good ways and got a great stash of candy!  They also enjoyed sitting around the campfire at Nina and Lily's house after, toasting marshmallows and eating candy.

So, whew.  October was lots of fun and really great, but I am hoping for less sickness and a little slower pace in November!  After all, November is my favorite month, both weather-wise and with Thanksgiving!  I can't wait!